Biomacromolecules, Vol.18, No.3, 886-897, 2017
Highly Efficient Supramolecular Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Pseudorotaxane Luminogen for Functional Bioimaging
The direct tracking of cells using fluorescent dyes is a constant challenge in cell therapy due to aggregation induced quenching (ACQ) effect and biocompatibility issues. Here, we demonstrate the development of a biocompatible and highly efficient aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active pseudorotaxane luminogen based on tetraphenylethene conjugated poly(ethylene glycol) (TPE-PEG2) (guest) and a-cyclodextrin (a-CD) (host). It is capable of showing significant fluorescent emission enhancement at the 400-600 nm range when excited at 388 nm, without increasing the concentration of AIE compound. The fluorescent intensity of TPE-PEG2 solution was effectively enhanced by 4-12 times with gradual addition of 1-4 mM of a-CD. 2D NOSEY 1.1-1 NMR revealed clear correlation spots between the characteristic peaks of a-CD and PEG, indicating the interaction between protons of ethylene glycol and cyclodextrin, and the structures are mainly based on threaded a-CD. The host guest complex exhibits boosted fluorescent emission because the PEG side chains are confined in "nano cavities" (host), thus, applying additional restriction on intermolecular rotation of TPE segments. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated the potential of AIE-active pseudorotaxane polymer as a biocompatible bioimaging probe.